Adrian Peterson, Peyton Hillis, and The Top 10 Running Backs Through Week Three

The National Football League has become pass-happy, and team success is largely dependent on having a good quarterback.  However, some teams have made it painfully obvious that you can't win by passing alone.

The Denver Broncos are first in the league in passing yards and 30th in rushing.  Their record is 1-2.  The Dallas Cowboys are fourth in passing yards and 26th in rushing.  Their record is 1-2.  The Washington Redskins are seventh in passing yards and 28th in rushing.  Once again...1-2.

There are a couple exceptions to this rule.  The Bears are 29th in rushing, but have still managed to go 3-0 thanks in large part to their defense and the fact that Jay Cutler has cut back on the turnovers.  The Vikings are sixth in rushing and they are 1-2 because Brett Favre seems determined to give the other team the ball a couple times a game.

The Bears won't stay undefeated if they can't find some kind of running game soon.  The Vikings and their solid rushing game will be back in the hunt for the NFC North crown if Favre stops turning the ball over.

Bottom line: You have to be able to have some balance to be effective.

A few NFL running backs have risen above the rest to provide their team with the balance they need to be successful.  Here are the Top 10.

Honorable Mention

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ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 19: Michael Turner #33 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Arizona Cardinals at Georgia Dome on September 19, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Michael Turner - Turner had a fantastic year in 2008, and Falcons fans have been anxiously awaiting a return to that form.  He's gotten off to a solid start this year, but I've kept him off this list because his yards per carry average isn't great, he's only scored one touchdown, and his backup Jason Snelling has arguably been more effective than him.

Michael Vick - I know he isn't an actual running back, but Vick is a big part of the Eagles rushing attack.  He leads the NFL in yards per carry and he's just 39 yards behind Lesean McCoy for the team lead in rushing yards.  Plus, he has a rushing touchdown already this year.

Ladainian Tomlinson - Most people thought LT didn't have anything left in the tank coming into this year.  His production in San Diego had steadily decreased over his last couple years there and the Chargers let him go and decided to go with an unproven rookie in Ryan Matthews.  Now Tomlinson is proving he does have some fight left in him.  He's averaging 5.6 yards per carry and is on pace for another 1,000-yard season.

Thomas Jones - After being let go by the Jets for Ladainian Tomlinson, Jones had something to prove.  At 32, this back still has a lot of game.  He and Jamaal Charles have combined to give Kansas City the number one rushing attack in the league.  He has 217 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries.

10. Tim Hightower

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 26: Runningback Tim Hightower #34 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes the football against Ricky Brown #27 of the Oakland Raiders during the third quarter of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 26, 2010 in

The Cardinals were supposed to fall apart this year.  People wrote them off in the NFC West because Kurt Warner retired, Matt Leinart did not get along with Ken Whisenhunt and was released, and Beanie Wells started the season dealing with an injury.

So much for all of that.  Three weeks into the season and Arizona finds itself in a familiar position: the top of their division.  They are tied with the Seahawks for first place and one of the biggest reasons for their success has been the play of Tim Hightower.

Hightower is tied for 14th in the league in rushing yards at 209.  He is fourth in yards per carry at 6.0 and he's scored two touchdowns.  Not many people are talking about Hightower, but he's off to a great start.

9. Ahmad Bradshaw

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 26: Ahmad Bradshaw #44 of the New York Giants runs into the endzone for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at New Meadowlands Stadium on September 26, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (

Bradshaw has emerged as the clear number one back for the New York Giants this year.  Brandon Jacobs has put up a pretty big fuss ever since it was announced that Bradshaw would be starting, but the play of both backs has validated Tom Coughlin's decision.

The Giants are a disappointing 1-2, but it hasn't been because of Bradshaw.  He's most certainly done his part, rushing for 253 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries.

8. LeSean McCoy

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DETROIT - SEPTEMBER 19: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores on a 46 yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 19, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Eagles defeated the Lions 35-3

Most of the football headlines in Philadelphia have centered around Michael Vick lately, and rightly so.  His comeback is shaping up to be one for the ages.  He hasn't led the Eagles to their 2-1 start by himself though.  LeSean McCoy has been a very effective weapon for the Eagles through Week 3.

McCoy and Vick have combined to give Philadelphia the seventh most rushing yards in the league so far.  McCoy himself is tied for 14th in rushing yards with 209.  What separates him from some of the other backs in the league is the fact that he's tied for first in the league in rushing touchdowns with four, and he's third in yards per carry.

Philadelphia is loaded with weapons offensively and looks like the favorite to win the NFC East right now.

7. Jamaal Charles

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ATLANTA - AUGUST 13: Jamaal Charles #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on August 13, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 and are all alone atop the AFC West.  I know, it still seems weird to read that. The biggest reason for their success has been their extremely effective running game.  Charles and Thomas Jones have combined to give the Chiefs the most rushing yards in the league.

Jones has been the workhorse with 52 carries but Charles is the guy that really makes this team exciting to watch.  He has piled up 238 yards on just 34 carries.  That's good for an average of 7.0 yards a carry (second in the NFL behind Michael Vick).

Kansas City's main competitor in the division would appear to be San Diego and possibly Denver.  If the Chiefs keep running the ball like this, neither one of those teams may be able to catch them.

6. Darren McFadden

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 19: Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball during their game against the St. Louis Rams at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

A lot of people thought this would be the year the Raiders finally became relevant again (at least for some reason other than losing).  While there are some new bright spots to discuss with this team, it looks as though they will once again finish at the bottom of the AFC West.

Don't blame Darren McFadden though.  He finally seems to be living up to his enormous potential.  He is currently third in the NFL in rushing yards at 345 and second in carries with 73.  It remains to be seen whether or not McFadden can continue to bear such a heavy workload, but he's off to the best start of his career.

The Raiders still have a lot of question marks throughout their roster, but they shouldn't have to worry about the halfback position for years to come.

5. Peyton Hillis

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CLEVELAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Running back Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Imag

About a week and a half ago I wrote an article questioning the Cleveland Browns for not using Peyton Hillis more.  That week, we learned that Jerome Harrison would be inactive for Cleveland's game against Baltimore and that Peyton Hillis would be the starter.  A couple days later, Hillis went off for 144 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.  He had this breakout performance on one of the toughest and most physical defenses in the league in Baltimore.

Even though he was only given 17 carries in his first two games this season, Hillis finds himself among the league leaders after Week 3.  He is ninth in the league in rushing yards with 220, and he is sixth in the league in yards per carry at 5.6.  Hillis also has a nose for the endzone and is tied for fourth in the NFL with three rushing touchdowns.

What really sets Hillis apart is his versatility.  He leads the Browns in receptions and yards after the catch.  On top of his skills as a runner and receiver, Hillis is also a great blocker, as he's spent most of his career as a fullback.

The Browns appear to be doomed for another rough year but the have a lot to look forward to with this young player.  His breakout year is just getting started.

4. Rashard Mendenhall

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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 12: Rashard Mendenhall #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs for a 50-yard game winning touchdown in overtime during the NFL season opener game against the Atlanta Falcons on September 12, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylva

Coming into this year all we heard about the Steelers was the Ben Roethlisberger suspension and how difficult it would be for Pittsburgh to compete without their superstar quarterback. 

It turns out, the Steelers haven't really needed a quarterback so far.  They are dead last in the NFL in passing yards but they are still one of only three unbeaten teams left in the league.  Their success has been due to their defense and their third-ranked rushing attack led by Rashard Mendenhall.

Mendenhall is fourth in the league in rushing yards with 332.  His average yards per carry ranks 10th at 5.2 and he's scored two touchdowns.

3. Chris Johnson

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 26: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans breaks for a long run during a game against the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on September 26, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty I

Chris Johnson told us that he expected to run for 2,500 yards this season.  Right now, he is on pace for 1,605.  Johnson must have really spoiled us last year, because 1,600 yards would be nowhere near failure for almost any other back.

Johnson is as dangerous a back as any in the league and could easily top this list as early as next week.  He can go off for 200+ yards against anyone.

At this moment, he is fifth in the league in rushing yards at 301 and he is tied for first with four rushing touchdowns.

2. Arian Foster

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LANDOVER - SEPTEMBER 19: Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans runs the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on September 19, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Texans defeated the Redskins in overtime 30-27. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Imag

The gap between one and two on this list is so narrow.  The decision to place Foster as the number two was pretty difficult.  He has been the leader of the upstart Texans through three games.  This team may have lost last week to Dallas but they look to be firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot and maybe even the AFC South crown.

Foster is first in the NFL with 406 rushing yards and is on pace to run for 2,165.  His 5.9 yards per carry average ranks fifth in the league, and he is tied for fourth with three touchdowns.  What hurts Foster's argument for number one is that the majority of his numbers were put up in one game against a Colt's defense that struggles against the run.

1. Adrian Peterson

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the Detroit Lions at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 26, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings def

A lot of people picked the Vikings to win the Super Bowl this year.  That dull roar has been quieted to little more than a whisper at this point.  Most of the blame for Minnesota's struggles can be saddled on Brett Favre who doesn't seem as ageless as we all thought he was.  Through three games, he has thrown two touchdowns and six interceptions for a passer rating of 60.4.

The Vikings passing attack may be dismal right now, but the running game is flourishing.  Adrian Peterson is running wild right now.  He is second in the NFL with 392 yards on 70 carries for an average of 5.6 yards per carry.  He is tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns with three.  What may be the most important stat for Peterson is this: zero fumbles.

Peterson's inability to hold on to the ball in the past has been well documented, but the way he's handled the rock this year makes that past seem like a distant one.

If Favre can recover and just play decent from here on out, the Vikings will still have a good shot at the playoffs thanks to superstar running back Adrian Peterson.